Pickled Banana Peppers
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Whether you’re adding them to salads, sandwiches, tacos or pizzas, or enjoying them straight from the jar, these Pickled Banana Peppers are super easy to make, keep for months, and taste absolutely fabulous!
You’ve likely seen those jars of pickled banana peppers on the store shelf stashed next to the pickled onions, pickled veggies and olives. You may also know them as pickled pepperoncini which are in the same family and are very similar. Did you know they’re super easy to make yourself? Whether you have a bumper crop of peppers growing in your garden or you find a great deal at the store, pickling them is a fantastic way to extend their shelf life by many months. Plus they’re absolutely delicious!
This recipe will remind you of your favorite deli-style pickled peppers. I’m making pickled banana peppers but you can use any pepper you like. Just be sure to select peppers that are fresh and firm without wrinkles, soft or dark spots.
Pickled Banana Peppers Recipe
Let’s get started!
For pickled banana peppers I like to keep the spices to a minimum. Unlike my homemade Pickle Relish, Sweet Pickle Relish and Corn Relish which I like to pack full of flavor, I like to keep the flavor profile of my pickled banana peppers clean and simple. That way the fabulous flavor of the peppers is supported and enhanced rather than drowned out.
Slice the peppers, discarding as many seeds as you reasonably can.
Place the garlic, bay leaf and peppercorns in the bottom of a 1 quart (1 liter) glass jar.
Pack in the sliced peppers.
Place the vinegar, water, sugar and salt in a small pot and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar and salt are dissolved.
Pour the hot vinegar over the peppers until the peppers, pressing them down with a butter knife to eliminate air pockets.
Close the lid tightly and let it cool completely at room temperature and then transfer the jar to the fridge.
For the best flavor let the jar sit for at least 1-2 weeks before using, occasionally giving the jar a good shake.
How Long Do Pickled Banana Peppers Keep?
It depends on their storage conditions but to maximize storage time keep them in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator. Under those conditions they will last MANY months.
Ways to Enjoy Pickled Banana Peppers
Toss them in leafy green salads, pasta salads, potato salads, chicken salads, tuna salads, egg salads; add them to sandwiches, salsas, egg bakes, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, on pizza and flatbreads; serve them with cheese and charcuterie boards, etc. Or just pop them in your mouth straight from the jar!
For more pickled goodness be sure to also try my:
- Pickled Beets
- Pickled Carrots
- Pickled Okra
- Pickled Jalapenos
- Giardiniera
- Pickled Turnips
- Pickled Green Beans
- Pickled Asparagus
- Refrigerator Pickles
- Pickled Onions (British Pub Style)
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Pickled Banana Peppers
Ingredients
- 12 ounces banana peppers (or peppers of choice) , washed and sliced, discarding as many seeds as you reasonably can(select fresh peppers without wrinkles, soft or dark spots)
- 3 cloves garlic , cut in half and smashed
- 2 teaspoons black peppercorns
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons sugar (optional; or use more if you prefer your peppers sweeter)
- 1 tablespoon kosher or pickling salt
- Note: If you prefer a richer color (some store-bought peppers include food coloring) you can add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground turmeric to the pot when you're heating up the brine.
Instructions
- Place the garlic, bay leaf and peppercorns in the bottom of a 1 quart (1 liter) glass jar. Pack in the sliced peppers.Place the vinegar, water, sugar and salt in a small pot and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Pour the hot vinegar over the peppers until the peppers, pressing them down with a butter knife to eliminate air pockets.Close the lid tightly and let it cool completely at room temperature and then transfer the jar to the fridge. For the best flavor let the jar sit for at least 1-2 weeks before using, occasionally giving the jar a good shake.
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet September 24, 2020
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
Hi! How long will the peppers keep in the refrigerator once they are ready? We will at some point water bath can them I was just curious how long they would keep in the refrigerator If they were not canned
Hi Ellen, I keep mine in the fridge for a few months and have seen others report up to 6 months, though I wouldn’t push it that far (even if it’s still technically “safe” the texture is going to suffer). This has a high vinegar to water ratio which is a plus for long storage but to be safe I always recommend using utensils instead of fingers for fishing them out to avoid introducing bacteria.
We now have two quarts of these in the fridge – made just as the recipe says. They are absolutely delicious! Crisp, tangy, flavorful. I now have a dishpan full of peppers to pickle… but I can’t keep them in the fridge. Thanks for the tip about using pickle crisp when canning them.
Thank so much, Chris, I’m happy you enjoyed them and appreciate the feedback! I’m still harvesting peppers from our garden and just made another batch myself. Added a few to our pizza for dinner tonight and they were a nice addition!
I have tried to can pickled peppers before and they’ve turned to mush. Would this recipe work to water bath can…?
Hi Hanna, yes you can water bath can these. There’s a product you can buy called “Pickle Crisp” that helps the veggies remain crispier.
We love banana peppers on pizza! I am so glad I can make them myself! Thank you!
Yay, Anna! So do we, it adds the perfect flavor, touch of heat and crunch!
This is perfect!! Love this easy to follow recipe.
I really need to try this asap!! I love pickled peppers!!
I love pickled banana peppers! Can’t wait to try this~
These look so good! I’m so excited to try these! Can’t wait!
I’m definitely trying these…I’m addicted to pickles!
I love banana peppers, I need to try this!
These Pickled Banana Peppers are mouth watering!